Work on project to check sea erosion to begin soon

State’s first geo-synthetic-tube seawall project to check sea erosion along the Pentha coast in Kendrapara district is all set to be implemented soon.

The State government has already signed an agreement with Pune-based Garware-Wall Ropes Limited to implement the project under the World Bank-funded Integrated Coastal Zone Management Project (ICZMP).

A sum of Rs. 32.95 crore will be spent on the project to create a 650-metre-long seawall, according to Jugal Kishore Tripathy, Executive Engineer (Saline Embankment Division).

The work on the project will begin by the end of monsoon when river sand will be available in the area. River sand is used to fill the geo-tubes, according to Mr. Tripathy.

The geo-synthetic-tube seawall project is being taken up after all traditional methods for restoration of the saline embankment failed to check sea erosion. The decision to erect geo-tube to arrest sea erosion has been taken on the basis of the findings of a study done by the Indian Institute of Technology, Chennai.

The foundation for the project was laid down by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik in 2008. But technical modification of the plan and delay in floating the tender led to the delay.

According to Mr. Tripathy, as many as 58 villages with a population of over 41,000 will be benefited with the seawall project.

A similar geo-synthetic tube seawall project has been implemented to cope with erosion at Uppada coast in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh.